2001-04-17 04:00:00 PDT Oakland -- The father of a bank robbery suspect who died after a confrontation with Oakland police at the end of a high-speed chase said yesterday that he was "gravely concerned" by police tactics in the case.

Jamil Wheatfall, 36, of Oakland, who had a record of felony convictions dating to 1987, fought with officers before being subdued at the end of the 4: 30 p.m. chase Saturday through city streets, police said. One witness, Leroy Grant, 66, told The Chronicle that he saw at least one officer kicking the suspect.

Wheatfall was pronounced dead at Highland Hospital in Oakland at 5:38 p.m., according to the Alameda County coroner's office, which is investigating the cause of his death.

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Jervis Muwwakkil, 64, of Oakland, said yesterday that police "have not contacted me at all" to explain the circumstances surrounding his son's death.

Nevertheless, Muwwakkil said he believed that officers used "excessive force."

"There was no necessity to beat a person until he expires," Muwwakkil said. "I have grave concerns. I'm mature enough not to be angry, but I'm definitely concerned."

Oakland police Officer George Phillips, the department spokesman, said it was too early to determine whether the force used in the case was inappropriate. An investigation is under way by Oakland homicide investigators,

which is routine when a suspect dies during a police action.

Authorities said Wheatfall robbed the Wells Fargo Bank at 3450 Fruitvale Ave. in East Oakland about 3:30 p.m. Saturday. A description of the suspect in the robbery and a getaway car was broadcast to officers.

Officers spotted the car at 35th and Foothill avenues about 4:30 p.m. and began chasing it. "The car and the person matched the description to a T," Phillips said.

The suspect refused to stop, provoking a high-speed chase that ended a few minutes later at 64th and Buenaventura avenues, near the Mills College campus, police said.

"He was violent and struggling with officers," Phillips said. One officer, who was not identified, received a broken thumb and a sprained ankle during the altercation, police said.

Court records show that Wheatfall had been accused of resisting arrest in a previous incident. In March 1993, Wheatfall fled when he spotted officers conducting a drug operation on Melrose Avenue, police said.

After he was caught, "Wheatfall, during my cuffing, managed to remove a firearm from his waistband," Oakland Officer Felix Aberouette wrote in his report. The loaded gun was safely removed, and Wheatfall was convicted of being an ex-felon in possession of a gun.

Wheatfall was convicted of assault with a deadly weapon in 1996 for stabbing a 39-year-woman with a letter opener. He also has previous convictions for robbery, auto theft and possession of narcotics.